September 13, 2022
Bellwether is proud to be an Elite Preferred James Hardie contractor because we believe in the quality and the benefits
Insulation is an important part of your home siding and the layers that protect against the elements. There are different types of insulation that can be applied to your home in different places with different methods. At Bellwether, our best practices are to choose the insulation product that is sufficient for your home’s environment and weather concerns.
Home siding and insulation often go hand-in-hand because of where and how insulation should be installed. The best location for insulation is in between the walls, inside the stud framing, while the sheathing is exposed. This is why, when we are replacing home siding, we recommend making any desired changes to your insulation.
Often, homeowners ask for insulation to be installed on the top of the sheathing, below the siding; however, not only is this not the most energy efficient choice, it presents a few problems. The greatest challenge to insulating the outside of a wall is space. Creating a thick insulation barrier on the outside of the wall, to give an acceptable R-factor, one that makes sense, this requires a two-inch foam board insulation. Two additional inches is a lot of added area in the exterior wall, and compensating for this affects window and wall projections. Additionally, it will require intermediate framing as a foundation for your home cladding to be nailed to. This increases time, costs, and the size of your home’s exterior space without adding to interior square footage. Generally speaking, the only appropriate time to install insulation to the outside of the wall is if there are some plumbing blocks that would prevent any other installation method, where it’s better than no insulation at all. The return on investment for outside wall insulation is negligible, especially in the Colorado climate.
For homes properly installing insulation, there are three main types of insulation.
Batt insulation is a fiberglass insulation that comes in large rolls or pre-cut industry-standard sizes, sometimes referred to as rock wool. This insulation is cost-effective and plenty efficient for homes along the Front Range or newer model homes with other energy efficiency measures in place. Batt insulation is installed right into the framing cavity inside your wall, and can be easily incorporated into a proper wall build project. Because the wall must be exposed in order to properly install the batt insulation, Bellwether can only install this form of insulation with full home siding replacements.
Unique to Bellwether, we offer a pre construction meeting where we provide a clear and detailed scope before we begin building.
Open communication with project manager crew leader, and internal representatives.
It's not over until you say so. We value your satisfaction with our product above all else. We offer final walkthrough to guarantee you are pleased.
Cellulose fiber insulation, often seen in attic spaces, is constructed from plant fibers and blown into walls. It is energy efficient and resistant to pests, mold, and fire. Because it is a blow insulation, it can be properly installed without replacing your existing sheathing. Bellwether will drill holes into the top and middle portions of interior or exterior walls to blow-in the cellulose fibers at various points of entry, ensuring that the insulation is filled into the entire cavity and around potential blockages or structural supports.
Closed-cell spray foam is made up from cells pressed together so that air and moisture cannot penetrate. The closed cells make it more rigid than other insulations, which is also what makes it very efficient. Bellwether can only install closed-cell spray foam with all of the sheathing removed so that there is full access to the wall cavity. We use only closed-cell spray foams because open-cell spray foams have much wider expansion rates, which can place pressure on your framing, causing it to warp and even damaging the interior drywall.
While cellulose and spray foam insulations are technologically more advanced and highly energy-efficient, for most Colorado homes, batt insulation provides the best return on investment. When properly installed, it fills the wall cavity, preventing air infiltration that helps maintain home temperatures throughout all seasons. For homes in the foothills and mountains, and especially older homes, spray-in foam insulations are more highly considered to protect against colder temperatures and linger frigidity due to snow and ice. While these products are more costly, as is the time required to properly install them, they are part of a full sheathing and moisture-barrier system that improves overall energy efficiency and the comfort of your home.
Our team is proud to serve our homeowners on the Front range of Colorado. We know the unique needs of our clients and deeply care about the look and durability of your home’s exterior. Our team of experts are here to guide you through the process of repairing or replacing your home’s siding and windows.
30 - year Product Warranty | 15 - year Finish Warranty
Personalized Exterior Design Service
Excellent Service & Support Throughout Project Lifecycle
3D & HD Renderings of Your Home
Our team is proud to serve our homeowners on the Front range of Colorado. We know the unique needs of our clients and deeply care about the look and durability of your home’s exterior. Our team of experts are here to guide you through the process of repairing or replacing your home’s siding and windows.
30 - year Product Warranty | 15 - year Finish Warranty
Exellent Service & Support Throughout Project Lifecycle
Personalized Exterior Design Service
3D & HD Renderings of Your Home
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Eget velit aliquet sagittis id consectetur purus ut. Feugiat vivamus at augue eget arcu dictum varius duis. Ac tortor dignissim convallis aenean et tortor at risus viverra. Curabitur vitae nunc sed velit.
Eget velit aliquet sagittis id consectetur purus ut. Feugiat vivamus at augue eget arcu dictum varius duis. Ac tortor dignissim convallis aenean et tortor at risus viverra. Curabitur vitae nunc sed velit.
Eget velit aliquet sagittis id consectetur purus ut. Feugiat vivamus at augue eget arcu dictum varius duis. Ac tortor dignissim convallis aenean et tortor at risus viverra. Curabitur vitae nunc sed velit.
Eget velit aliquet sagittis id consectetur purus ut. Feugiat vivamus at augue eget arcu dictum varius duis. Ac tortor dignissim convallis aenean et tortor at risus viverra. Curabitur vitae nunc sed velit.
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